Omega Seamaster 1948 Co-Axial London 2012

Kong · 2011-07-27T09:13:55Z

Discover the Omega Seamaster 1948 Co-Axial "London 2012" Limited Edition. A blend of vintage design and modern tech, sparking collector debate.

Kong

WPS member · Omega forum

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Kong introduces the Omega Seamaster 1948 Co-Axial "London 2012" Limited Edition, a timepiece commemorating Omega's role as Official Timekeeper for the Olympic Games. This article highlights the watch's vintage design cues combined with modern Co-Axial technology, sparking a community discussion on its design choices and movement selection.

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The very first OMEGA Seamaster was launched in 1948, the last time London hosted the Olympic Games. To commemorate the 2012 Games, OMEGA is launching the Seamaster 1948 Co-Axial "London 2012" Limited Edition. It is being introduced a year to the day before the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony in London.

OMEGA will be serving as Official Timekeeper for the 25th time at the London 2012 Olympic Games; fittingly, the brand was also responsible for the timekeeping at the 1948 Games. The Seamaster 1948 Co-Axial "London 2012" Limited Edition is a redesign of OMEGA's first automatic Seamaster and stands as a timeless classic – as stylish now as it was more than sixty years ago.

It features a 39 mm polished and brushed stainless steel case with a polished bezel and lugs. Its crown is embossed with a vintage Ω logo. An 18 Ct yellow gold medallion embossed with the London 2012 Olympic Games logo is fixed in the caseback. The watch is water resistant to 12 bar / 120 metres / 400 feet.

The Seamaster 1948 has an opaline silver dial with a small seconds subdial at 6 o'clock. It has an applied 18 Ct white gold vintage OMEGA logo and name as well as 18 Ct white gold Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock and hour markers at the other positions. The watch features diamond-polished hour and minute hands and a blue steel small seconds hand.
While the watch's stunning exterior recalls its legendary ancestor, a different story is told inside the case: the Seamaster 1948 is powered by the exclusive OMEGA caliber 2202, an officially-certified chronometer equipped with a Co-Axial escapement on three-levels and free sprung-balance.

The special limited-edition Seamaster is presented on a black leather strap with a vintage polished stainless steel buckle.
The Seamaster 1948 Co-Axial "London 2012" is being produced in a limited edition of 1,948 pieces. It is delivered in a special London 2012 presentation box.

With its strong connections to the 1948 and 2012 London Olympic Games and its powerful link to OMEGA's history, the Seamaster 1948 Co-Axial "London 2012" Limited Edition will rightfully earn its place of privilege as the ultimate OMEGA Olympic Games collectable.

Press Release

Key Points from the Discussion

The use of a 26mm caliber 2202 (a jeweled-up cal 2500) in a 39mm watch results in a small, high-set sub-dial at 6 o'clock, which some find disproportionate. This caliber also powered the Omega Centenary homage.
Several contributors express concern over the 'cramped real estate' on the dial, suggesting that the 'Co-Axial Chronometer' text could be removed or the seconds register resized for better balance.
The choice of the caliber 2202 over the 8500 series is questioned, with speculation that it might be due to cost or the lack of a sub-seconds capability in the 8500 at the time, as well as maintaining a higher price point for the 8500.
The design receives mixed feedback, with some liking the 39mm size, solid caseback, and applied vintage Omega logo, while others dislike the mismatched hand and index styles, the blue steel seconds hand, and the caseback engraving.
The servicing complexity of Co-Axial movements is raised as a potential deterrent for some collectors, who prefer designs that are more easily serviceable by local watchmakers.
A contributor suggests that the gold medallion on the caseback adds cost without visible value, preferring either all blue or all silver hand finishes.

The Discussion

johnswatch1

Jul 28, 2011

I love the watch except for the different hand finishes. Either all blue or all silver would be my preference. Also lose the gold medallion. Adding gold where no-one can see it is an exercise in adding cost without value. All said, if it's a reasonable price I can see myself picking one back.

Echi

Jul 28, 2011

the real estate seems to be really cramped. at the top, maybe lose the "coaxial chronometer"... or even just the coaxial. at the bottom, i'm not sure what to make of the seconds register. is it too big? while i like the hands, it doesn't seem to match the pointy indices. they could've gone with the usual seamaster hands (dauphine? - the triangular pointy one). of course, i'm not sure if what i'm saying is consistent with how the seamaster was designed back in the day. on the plus side, i like th

aroma

Jul 28, 2011

the seconds dial is in the wrong place and maybe too small. The rest of it? Well it's OK but it doesn't grab me in the way a vintage Speedie or Connie would. So I won't be going after one - perhaps it's the Co-ax movement that puts me off - I know it is supposed to be good now but I've heard that servicing is something that your local watchmaker won't do. To be honest, with all Omega's history and wonderful past designs it is surprising that they couldn't come up with something better - I think

Franco

Jul 28, 2011

I would have liked it with the subseconds slightly lower and a larger subdial (although I guess the position was imposed by the caliber dimensions. The writing a bit less cluttered. I would have seriously thought of buying something like this. PLEASE NOTE: this picture is just a Photoshop exercise. BWs Franco

Kong

Jul 28, 2011

Hi Echi Yes, it just too cluttered, perhaps should lose the Co-axial and place it on the caseback. Another press pic while waiting to see the real piece...likely in Sept. Kong

MikiJ

Jul 28, 2011

Seamaster and sign me up! Best to all, Miki

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